FCC OKs Hearing Aid Wireless Phone Rules Including VoIP

FCC members approved updates to rules for hearing aid compatibility and volume control on wireline and wireless phones. Republicans Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr partially dissented, questioning why the FCC needed to adopt a requirement that within three years, all hearing-aid compatible (HAC) wireless handsets include volume controls. The vote was one of the first times since Ajit Pai became chairman that objections came mainly from fellow Republicans. The two objected only to the new wireless volume-control standard. The FCC shouldn’t impose such standards on industry, O’Rielly said. “Just because we have done it before doesn’t mean that we should continue to do so,” he said. “While they can sometimes be effectively used as a safe harbor, standards set by appropriate industry bodies should be allowed to evolve without commission involvement or approval.” The order recognizes industry already is working on a standard for wireless volume control. “So, I must ask -- why are we implementing rules now?” he said. “We should allow industry to implement this standard and then see if there is evidence that problems persist.” Carr has similar concerns. “While I appreciate the importance of volume control standards … the order does not adequately justify imposing this,” he said. The cost-benefit analysis in the order doesn’t account for all the costs imposed, he said. “This uncertainty means that we should seek additional comment rather than proceeding directly to a rule.” Pai said HAC rules are important since some 13 percent of Americans are deaf or hard of hearing. “The Commission continues its efforts to ensure that tens of millions of Americans with hearing loss have access to and can benefit from critical and modern communication technologies and services,” said a news release. The order also adopts an updated volume control standard for wireline handsets and imposes HAC requirements on VoIP handsets, officials said Tuesday. The order eliminates what was considered to be an outdated standard for RF interference reduction and magnetic coupling with wireless phones.